,
Petrography is the study of minerals using optical microscopy. Its use in the analysis of coal and coke to provide invaluable insights to the UK steel industry has yielded incredible results in the… read more
Petrography is the study of minerals using optical microscopy. Its use in the analysis of coal and coke to provide invaluable insights to the UK steel industry has yielded incredible results in the past (UK imports of coal and coke for steel-making are worth ~2 billion USD annually), but has unfortunately fallen out of favour in the last two decades due to the highly specialised equipment and expertise required to conduct it. Despite this steep barrier to re-entry, petrography is still seen as a crucial science in coal and coke analysis. To this end, my research aims to lower the barrier by automating the analysis process and tabulating the results in a manner that can be interpreted by a non-specialist. To achieve this, I employ machine learning techniques (Convolutional Neural Networks, or CNNs) to recognise and classify the images produced during petrographic analysis by the optical microscope, the results of which can then be used to advise on operational and raw material selection strategy.
Faculty of EngineeringThe University of Nottingham University Park Nottingham, NG7 2RD
email:AdvMaterials@nottingham.ac.uk